Protester Charged With Hitting Officer Claims Police Attacked Her At Cancelled Trump Rally
CHICAGO (CBS) -- She says she was knocked down and beaten while protesting at a planned Donald Trump rally in Chicago, not by a Trump supporter but by Chicago Police.
The Michigan woman says not only was she stitched and bandaged, she's now facing charges, reports CBS 2's Audrina Bigos.
In the middle of the chaos, the take-downs and arrests was the bloody face of 45-year-old Kathleen Griffin.
She's now facing a misdemeanor battery charge after Chicago Police say she refused orders to clear the street and then struck an officer in the face with a closed hand.
But Griffin's attorney Sara Garber says she was a "peaceful protestor" who was grabbed and viciously beaten on the head with a baton by the Chicago Police.
In a statement, Garber says, "As is typical of the Chicago Police, to cover-up their brutality, the police falsely charged Kathleen with battery to a police officer. We will vigorously defend these charges in court."
But police say the cut on her head was caused when she and an officer fell on the ground during her arrest.
Also among the chaos, University of Illinois-Chicago police officers say there was a complete disregard for their safety.
In a letter, they blamed their chief for putting them in danger, first by not allowing pepper spray which they say, "left us with our baton and handgun as the only tools available to us."
Other claims include that the officers, "were ordered to leave our dark colored gloves in our lockers because they looked too aggressive," and "We were told not to place our hands on anyone."
UIC says in statement, "Our officers had all appropriate training, authorized use of force, and protective equipment available to them at all times."
Griffin was taken to the hospital and then put back into police custody and released on bond the following day.
